The Used Car Index

2017 BMW I3 problems

NHTSA lists 52 complaints for the 2017 BMW I3, 2 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 3 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW I3.

At a glance

Complaints
52
With crash
2
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
3
Injuries
4
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
32,000
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
201

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STRUCTURE1223.1%
STEERING1121.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1121.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM713.5%
POWER TRAIN611.5%
AIR BAGS35.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM35.8%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)23.8%
SERVICE BRAKES23.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL23.8%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY12
AIR BAGSSENSOR1
TIRESMARKINGS1
TIRESTREAD/BELT1
VISIBILITYWINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
structural or corrosion1325.0%0.82
loss of control1223.1%0.83
electrical electronic1121.2%0.80
mechanical failure611.5%0.72
restraint or airbag47.7%0.89
fire or overheating35.8%0.93
visibility or lighting23.8%0.78
unclear11.9%0.98
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate3669.2%0.86
low917.3%0.66
high59.6%0.85
critical11.9%0.87
none11.9%0.40

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 52 tagged complaints of 52 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

17V720000

Date: 2017-11-16. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unbelted, small adult, drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a frontal crash. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V088000

Date: 2017-02-09. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the ribbed wire protection sleeve of the battery positive (B+) cable, creating a hole in the vent line and causing a fuel vapor leak.

Consequence: A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vent line, replacing it as necessary, and install a clip to prevent it from chafing, free of charge. The recall beganApril 3, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V914000

Date: 2016-12-20. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i x (excerpt)

Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. (excerpt)

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

DP22005

Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.

Manufacturer communications

201 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM85
EQUIPMENT78
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING18
VISIBILITY15
STEERING14
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY13
STRUCTURE8
AIR BAGS7

11032732

Date: 2026-05-06. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11012072

Date: 2024-12-04. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date.

11012073

Date: 2024-12-04. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

the High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date.

10253322

Date: 2024-04-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10214990

Date: 2022-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014.

10214256

Date: 2022-02-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

The quick disconnect coupling on the cylinder head coolant vent line could break at the cylinder head. This would lead to loss of coolant from the engine.

10205606

Date: 2021-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.

10204657

Date: 2021-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents).

10204660

Date: 2021-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
I352

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2017

  • X1: 156 complaints
  • X3: 92 complaints
  • X5: 74 complaints
  • 330I: 41 complaints
  • 430I: 25 complaints
  • 540I: 20 complaints
  • 530I: 18 complaints
  • M2: 17 complaints

Sources

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